The Trouble With Magic

I bought all of Patricia Rice Magic Novels when she selfpublished them, before she sold them to Sourcebook. Except... this book, some how, went missing. So, when it was re-issued by Sourcebooks I knew I had to buy it again.

And I am glad I did.

I enjoyed reading about Ewen and Felicity's romance. I liked Ewen's chivalry, and his attempt to protect Felicity from the visions. Even when he made mistakes, he acted for Felicity's welfare. And my heart melted as he struggled between doing what he must, and doing what he wanted. It fascinating to see him grow, from a wandering tinker and inventor, to a man satisfied with settling down.

At first Felicity's lack of self confidence annoyed me . But that annoyance disappeared quickly as the story show more continued. She has inner strength that I admired, and it felt like she could do anything. As long as Ewen was there. And that was one of the aspects that I liked most. How Ewen and Felicity fit. They are different, yet somehow their halves meshed and became one.

But what I especially liked, was that both of them knew that they would have rough times in front of them.I liked how the romance, and the threat of bankruptcy that hung over Ewen's head worked together. And I also liked how they worked together, both when it came to finding Felicity's journal, and figuring out how the lock that Ewen designed broke.

And that, in combination with an intriguing and carefully crafted setting, created a book I couldn't stop reading.

Despite all the things I loved with the book, it sometime felt like I was skimming pages, not reading them. But that didn't last long though.. show less

This was a very nice historical paranormal romance. Lady Felicity can read other people's emotions when she touches them or something they own. This is very difficult for her and makes it impossible for her to touch anyone or anything. She is determined to find an old book written by one of her ancestors which is supposed to have a cure for her gift. The only thing she knows for sure it that the book was sold to a collector in Scotland over one hundred years ago. She is determined to find it.

She and her sister Christina are on there way to Scotland to visit a couple of her older sisters who are married to Ivys when their ship is thrown off course in a storm. They find themselves in an inn which also is hosting Ewen Ivy. Ewen is an show more inventor who travels all around. He is currently in a bad financial position because of an accident at one of the sites he and some other investors had put money into. Ewen feels responsible to rebuild a town when it is washed out when the lock gear he designed gave way. None of the other investors feel any responsibility.

Ewen also feels responsibility for the young ladies who are clearly out of their depth. He certainly didn't plan to fall in love with Felicity. Felicity was certain that her gift would keep her from ever having a relationship with a man. But somehow, she finds Ewen's touch comforting instead of frightening.

I liked the story. I liked the quirky Malcolms with their various psychic gifts. I thought the plot was well done and the romance grew nicely. show less